Electric signaling system.



E. R. LUNDIUS.

ELECTRIC SIGNALING SYSTEM. I APPLIOATION FILED MAB. 9, 1911.

1,064,976, Patented June 17, 1913.

3' QHEETS-SHEET l.

E. R. LUNDI'US.

ELECTRIC SIGNALING SYSTEM. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 9, 1911.

Patented June 17, 1913.

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Suva/mica COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH :01, WASHINGTON. D. c.

E. R. LUNDIUS.

ELECTRIC SIGNALING SYSTEM.

APPLIGATION FILED MAR.9.1911.

1,064,976. Pa ented June 17, 1913.

3 SHEEEES-SHEET 3.

wwwto'a COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH C0..WA5H1NGTON. n. c.

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ELECTRIC SIGNALING SYSTEM.

Application filed March 9.

0 (ZZZ who 177.275 may concern Be it known that I, ERIC R. LUNDIUS, acitizen of the United States, residing at Seat tle, in the county ofKing, State of lVashington, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Electric Signaling Sys tems; and I do hereby declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description I of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same.

This invention relates to electric signal systems and has for anobjectto provide a time switch mechanism that will automaticallyactuate, maintain through a predetermined interval, and thenautomatically cut out a signal, such as an alarm, lamp, etc, means beingprovided for the repetition of the signal at regular intervals orcutting the signal out entirely after one operation.

A further object is to provide a device of this class that at one time,may be set to repeat a signal at irregular intervals.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a novelrotary switch that will be uniformly and independently actuated by aclock controlled electro circuit.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a novelclock dial and hands for controlling the rotary switch actuatingcurrent.

With the above objects in view the invention consists of the noveldetails of construction and combination of parts hereinafter fullydescribed and claimed, it being understood that various modificationsmay be made in the minor details of construction within the scope of theappended claims.

In the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification: Figure 1is a diagram illustrating a practical embodiment of my invention. Fig. 2is a plan view of my rotary switch. Fig. 3 is an end elevation of therotary switch. Fig. 4 is a face view of my improved clock dial withparts broken away. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of the dialminute hand taken on the line 55 Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a fragmentary crosssectional view of the dial taken on the line 66 Fig. 4.

In the embodiment of my invention here shown, I employ a clock in whichthe minute hand 10 and hour hand 11 move uniformly over the dial 12. Theminute hand is terminally equipped with a platinum tipped shoeSpecification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 17, 1913.

1911. Serial No. 613,299.

13 which successively engages platinum tipped contact plugs 14 arrangedin a circular series in the dial one at each five minute designationcharacter as shown, an additional contact plug 15 being arranged betweenthe designating numerals 11 and 12,

I and this contact plug is connected by a conductor 16 to one pole of anelectromagnet 17, the opposite pole of this magnet being connected by aconductor 18 to a battery 19 or other electro generator, which latter isin turn connected to the pivot of the minute hand by a conductor 20. Thecontact plugs 14 are individually connected through the instrumentalityof conductors 21 to related contacts on a rotary switch which will nowbe described.

The rotary switch comprises a drum 22 having a longitudinal rib'23 onits outer surface. An axle 24 is fixed in the bore of the drum and theopposite ends of this axle are journaled in pedestals 25. A ratchet 26is fixed to one end of the drum and forms means for rotating the drumstep by step as will presently appear. A pair of spaced rings 27surround opposite ends of the drum, these rings being held stationarythrough the instrumentality of suitable legs 28 and being connected bybars 29 of insulating material spaced at regular intervals from eachother, twelve bars here being shown but it is not intended to limit thebars to this number as any desired number of bars may be used inpractice. Fixed in each bar is a series of twelve pairs of springs 30,having their drum confronting ends arcuate in contour, and the opposingfaces of these arcuate ends tipped with platinum contacts 31. A dog 32operatively engages the ratchet 26, this pawl being connected to aspring controlled armature 33 which confronts the poles of theelectromagnet 17.

When the minute hand engages with the contact plug 15 above described, acircuit may be traced through the minute hand 10, conductor 16,electromagnet 17, battery 19, and conductor 20 back to the minute hand,and while this circuit is closed the electromagnet will be energized,and the armature attracted. This attraction of the armature through theinstrumentality of the pawl 32 and the ratchet 26 will cause a step rotation of the drum. When the minute hand has passed beyond the contact15, the circuit will be broken, the .electromagnet deenergized, and thearmature released, the controlling spring of the armature then operatingto move the pawl again into operative position on the ratchet forrotating the drum another step upon the circuit above outlined againbeing closed. The gap over which the armature travels is proportional tothe step which the drum must be actuated through in order to bring therib 23 of the drum to a position of rest under each of the bars 29 ofthe drum in succession.

It will now be noted that by virtue of the contact 15 being arrangedintermediate the designation numerals 11 and 12 on the dial. that theelectromagnet will be energized once every hour so that the drum. isadvanced one step every hour and this advancement takes place atapproximately the end of the hour. The twelve different bars 29 correspond to the twelve hour designation marks on the dial passed overduring one complete revolution of the hour hand 11 During rotation ofthe drum, the rib 25 when passing under any particular bar willsimultaneously engage one spring of each pair of springs carried by thatbar and move the spring into engagement with the mating spring of thepair so that the twelve pairs of springs on the bar are simultaneouslyclosed together. The twelve different sets of springs on one barcorrespond to the five minute designation marks passed over by theminute hand during one complete revolution.

Referring now to the diagram it will be seen that from each contact plug14 on the dial a conductor 21 is led to a corresponding spring 30 ofeach pair of springs on the bars 26. Further that a conductor 84connects the mating spring of each pair of springs to a correspondingterminal When the rib of the drum contacts with a pair of springs on anyparticular bar, as shown in'the diagram, the springs will close and forman electrical connection between the conductor 21 leading from thecorresponding dial contact plug 14 to one of the springs of the pair,and the conductor 34 leading from the mating spring of the pair to thecorresponding terminal 85.

The other 11 sets of springs on the same bar, but which are not shown inthe diagram, will also close. Thus there are twelve closed circuits atone time from a single contact plug 14 on the dial to twelve terminalssimilar to 35. The terminals shown in the diagram illustrate a singleseries of terminals on a switch board, the series being the terminalscorresponding to the five minute designation character that is passedover twelve times during a complete revolution of the hour hand. It isto be understood that the next adjacent set of terminals on the switchboard would be the terminals corresponding to the 10 minute designationcharacter, and these terminals would be wired to their correspondingsprings on the bars around the drum in the same manner as thoseillustrated.

Supposing it is desired to actuate an alarm such as a bell or the likeat 1:05 oclock. One terminal of the bell may be connected to theterminal designated by 1:05 on the switch board, and the other terminalof the bell grounded. When from the illustrated position of the clockhands, the minute hand 10 advances and makes contact with the contactstud 15, the battery circuit will be closed, the electromagnetenergized, the armature attracted and the drum advanced one step asabove described. A'tter the minute hand 10 has passed beyond the contact15, and has come into contact with the stud 14 at the designationcharacter indicating five minutes after the hour of one on the dial, acircuit may be traced from the battery 19 through the conductor 20,minute hand 10, contact plug 14 at the designation character one,related conductor 21, related springs 30 and related conductor 34, tothe terminal designated by 1:05 on the switch board, thence through thebell and into the ground, it being understood that the circuit is alsogrounded at the battery as illustrated. The bell is actuated during theflow. of current through this circuit. It is evident that the bell willbe actuated at the expiration of every twelve hours and thus the signalrepeated at regular intervals. In order to repeat this signal atirregular intervals, say at 3 :05, 4:05, and 8:05, it is simplynecessary to provide a branched conductor for the bell, the branches ofthe conductor being inserted in the terminals 3:05, 4:05 and 8:05.

It will here be stated that the diagram shows terminals 35 correspondingto the twelve contact plugs 14 passed over during one completerevolution of the hour hand. The hour hand makes two revolutionsin a dayof 24 hours. We have illustrated simply the connections and theterminals corresponding to the a. m. hours. Should it be desired toprovide terminals corresponding to the p. m. hours, it is obvious thatthis result may be accomplished by equipping the rotary switch wit-h 24sets of bars, rather than 12 sets, and equipping the ratchet gear 16with 24 teeth. In this construction each a. m. and p. in. terminal wouldhave a separate conductor leading to the related spring on the rotaryswitch as will be understood.

When it is desired to automatically actuate, maintain through apredetermined interval and then cut out a signal such as an alarm, lamp,etc., additional apparatus is required. In this connection I employ arelay 36 the armature 37 of which operates between twocontacts 38 whichareconnected with a conductor 39, which actuates lamps or other desiredsignals, and :a battery or other source of electric energy 40. The relay36 is grounded through the instrumentalityof conductors 41 and 42,-t-hearmature the purpose of which will presently appear.-

Assuming that it is desired to operate a signal such as causing one ormore lamps to glow on the line wire 39, at 1 :05 and'to extinguish thelamps at 4:05 automatically. One terminal of the relay 36 is connectedto the terminal designated by 1 :05 on the switch board through theinstrumentality of a conductor 49, and this same terminal is connectedto the feed wire 39 by a conductor 50. A terminal of the relay 44 isconnected to the terminal designated by 4 :05 on the switch board by aconductor 51, and the same terminal of this relay is connected by aconductor 53 to a contact point 52 which confronts one of the abovedescribed contacts 45 the latter being pivotally mounted as shown at 54.

Suppose the clock hands to be in the position illustrated. Until theminute hand has passed beyond the contact plug 14 at the designationcharacter denoting five minutes past the hour of one on the dial, theoperation will be the same as described in actuating the bell. Now whenthe minute hand is in engagement with the contact plug 14 at said fiveminute designation numeral, a circuit may be traced through the battery19, conductor 22, minute hand 10, contact plug 14, related conductor 21,related springs 30, related conductor 34, terminal 1:05 on the switchboard, conductor 49, relay 36, ground conductors 41 and 42, the armature37 being attracted by the relay and consequently contacting with thecontact point 38 and thereby closing the circuit between the generator40 and feed wire 39. A shunt circuit may be traced from the generator 40through the conductor 50, relay 36 and ground conductors 41 and 42 sothat when the minute hand has passed beyond the said five minutedesignation character on the dial, and thereby opened the initial relayenergizing circuit, the relay will still be energized by this shuntcircuit and hold the armature attracted and consequently hold thecircuit between the generator and feed wire closed. When the hands ofthe clock have reached such a posi- 'tion as :to designate the hour of4:O5-on the (31,411160111'16110 from the battery 19 will flow throughthe terminal 4 :05 on the switch board, conductor 51, relay 44, andground conductors 47 and 42 into the ground, this current energizing therelay, and causing the withdrawal of the relay armature 43 from thecontact 45 of the ground wire 42.

The ground of the relay 36 will thus be broken causing the deenergizingof the relay and consequently release of the armature 37 thereby openingthe circuit between the generator 40 and feed wire 39 and extinguishingthe lamps. The lamps will not be lighted again automatically since uponthe energizing of the relay 44, and consequent attraction of thearmature 43, the loose contact 45 and the contact 43 will be broughtinto engagement, a current then flowing through the generator 40,conductors 46 and 53, relay 44 and ground conductors 47 and 42 andmaintaining the relay in an energized state consequently holding thearmature 43 in such a position as to maintain open the ground of therelay 36. If thesignal is desired to be repeated again at an interval oftwelve hours the manually operatable switch 48 may be opened so that thecurrent of the relay is broken and the relay consequently deenergizedpermitting of the armature 43 to return to the position shown in thediagram and in which position of the parts the operation above describedmay be repeated. Removal of the conductor 53 will accomplish the sameend namely, permit of repetition of the signal twelve hours later.

In order that a good electrical connection may be made between theminute hand and contact plugs of the dial, to the under face of the handis secured an elongated strip 54, formed of any-good conductingmaterial, and being terminally equipped with a shoe 55 connectionbetween the shoe and strip being made by means of a spring 56. To thedial 12 is fixed a ring 57 of vulcanized fiber or other insulatingmaterial, and this ring is provided at regular intervals with sockets 58in which are mounted the contact plugs 14 above referred to. Eachcontact plug is provided intermediate its ends with a circumferentialstop collar 59, and a helical spring 60 surroundsthe plug and bears withits opposite terminal convolutions against the bottom of the socket andconfronting face of the stop collar.

A ring 61 of insulating material is fitted upon the ring 57, and isprovided at intervals with openings 61 through which the outer ends ofplugs project, the stop collars of the plugs bearing against themarginal portions of these openings and limiting outward movement of theplugs. It is clear that during advancement of the minute hand upon thedial, that the spring pressed shoe of the hand will when in engagementwith any particular spring pressed contact plug form a good electricalconnection.

What is claimed is 1. In an electric signaling system, a clock having acircular series of spring pressed dial plugs, a supplemental springpressed dial plug inserted between two of the first named plugs, anintermittently revoluble circuit closing cylinder, signal actuatingconductor wires leading from each of the first named plugs, said wiresbeing intercepted by said cylinder, a conductor wire leading from saidsupplemental plug to the minute hand and including in its circuit asource of electricity and an electromagnet, and means operated. by saidelectromagnet upon contact of said minute hand with said supplementalplug for actuating said cylinder one step.

2. In an electric signaling system, a clock having acircular series ofspring pressed dial plugs, a supplemental spring pressed dial pluginserted between two of the first named plugs, an intermittentlyrevoluble circuit closing cylinder, signal actuating conductor wiresleading from each of the first named plugs, said wires being interceptedby said cylinder, a conductor wire leading from said supplemental plugto the minute hand and including in its circuit a source of electricityand an electromagnet, means operated by said elect-romagnet upon contactof said minute hand with said supplemental plug for actuating saidcylinder one step, and means selectively engageable with said signalactuating conductor wires for maintaining a signal a predeterminedlength of time.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature, in presence of twowitnesses.

ERIC R. LUNDIUS.

Witnesses:

B. T. ROBINSON, H. B. KENNEDY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C.

